World News

Sly And Robbie Celebrate New Release: Rhythm Doubles Published January 5, 2007

Lowell “Sly” Dunbar’s and Robert “Robbie” Shakespeare’s ability to combine music from around the globe with a throbbing Reggae bassline has been the core of their thirty-one year track-record as the cutting edge of Jamaican music. Recently released on Taxi Records, the Rhythm Doubles album from the famed “Riddim Twins” follows the trend, fusing Rumba, Salsa, Jazz, Bhangra, Rhythm Blues, Hip Hop, and Soul grooves with the pounding sound and attitude of Reggae and Dancehall.

The producers of the current monster single “Driver A” from Buju Banton, and Mr. Vegas’ catchy “Just Lean Wit It,” Sly and Robbie have an astonishing 200,000 songs under their belt, working with everybody from Reggae legend Peter Tosh to rebellious pop singer Sinead O’Connor. While not keeping official count, Sly estimates it be a much higher figure.

“It’s probably over a million songs,” says Sly. “I have been making music since I was 15 years old in the ’60s. Sometimes people come to me with a tune, and I say ‘ yeah, that sounds good,’ and I ask where it came from, and they look at me and tell me that I made it.”

Selections from Rhythm Doubles, the duo's 42nd album, are currently in regular rotation on radio stations around the world, and the recently released video for “El Cumbanchero, is being added to Reggae and pop stations, including Irie Vibes, available in the Caribbean and the NY/NJ area on CIN.